Flexible Magnetics and Their Uses
Flexible Magnetics and Their Uses
People usually imagine magnets as rigid devices used to hold items against ferromagnetic surfaces, however a flexible magnet provides another form of magnetic attraction.
Flexible magnetic products come in sheets that can be cut to your exact measurements or longer and thinner strips sold as rolls, produced through either extrusion or calendering processes.
Flexibility
Flexible magnets differ from their solid counterparts in that they are specifically engineered to bend without breaking or becoming damaged, enabling them to be bent into any desired form during production and after for use in specific applications, making them one of the most versatile types of magnets on the market.
Calendaring or extrusion are both processes used to produce magnetic profiles, each offering distinct advantages. Calendaring mixes ferrite or rare earth magnetic powder with flexible rubber binder to form tapes or sheets which can be rolled up, while extrusion produces magnetic profiles in strips or bands that can be customized according to specific color, thickness and adhesive needs.
Flexible products enable design innovations and manufacturing techniques not possible with more brittle materials, such as being cut, cut, punched or coiled without losing their magnetic properties - an excellent choice for applications requiring precision positioning.
Application uses for these stickers include point of sale displays, packaging and vehicle signage signage for vehicles arts and crafts marketing symbols and marketing symbols. Door latches often make use of these adhesives too and come equipped with either isotropic or anisotropic energy orientation options to improve durability and stability.
Durability
Flexible magnetics can be tailored and modified both during and after manufacturing to meet the unique requirements of various applications, making them a fantastic choice for products or projects requiring unique shapes or sizes. Plus, flexible magnets are extremely strong; able to withstand an immense amount of pressure during handling processes which is great for many jobs.
These magnets can be bent, cut, twisted and bent into almost any shape possible while still having good magnetic strength, giving designers a wide variety of creative ideas not possible with rigid magnets.
Magnetic materials are produced by mixing ferrite magnet material with a rubber-like binder. After mixing, this mixture is either extruded or calendared into strips, tapes and sheets which may or may not contain adhesive surfaces such as vinyl.
Common applications of magnetic strips include displays, toys and games, arts and crafts projects, warehouse labels and window/door seals. Usually featuring strips with stripes of magnetic poles on one side while remaining non-magnetized on the other, their edges tend to be rounded off for safety and to facilitate easier attachment to surfaces.
Self-adhesive magnetic strips offer another type of flexible magnetics; these strips combine magnetic with adhesive properties on one side for use in creating signs that can easily be removed and replaced, such as those for taxis or driving schools. With such versatility comes great potential when printed with various colours and shapes making this an extremely adaptable product.
Adhesive Backing
Flexible magnets with their adhesive back are ideal for applications where magnetic power is necessary, yet permanent installation of traditional magnetic surfaces cannot be implemented. Their backing typically consists of plastic film like polypropylene or biaxially oriented polyvinyl chloride which can be treated to improve its tensile strength, elongation and stiffness to meet specific application needs.
Multiple-poled flexible magnets are increasingly popular as an important way to increase holding force and improve resolution in sensing applications. Material production involves extrusion or calendaring; both processes produce strips with magnetic material on one side that can be rolled for storage and handling purposes before being cut to length and shape requirements.
Flexible magnetic products offer unique design opportunities and manufacturing procedures not possible with rigid materials, making design innovations possible and manufacturing efficient procedures more achievable than with rigid ones. Their versatility has found applications from point-of-purchase displays and vehicle signage to complex automation assemblies; arts & crafts projects, children's toys, fridge magnets and memo boards and any number of creative uses where flexibility plays a key part in their usage.
Printability
People often picture magnets as rigid devices that attract other magnetic materials. While such products do have their uses, for some applications it may be preferable to use flexible magnets made of ferrite powder embedded within rubber polymer resin. They come in sheets which can be cut to size as well as long thin strips available on rolls.
Magnetic strips are usually produced using either extrusion or calendaring methods of manufacture, with extrusion involving squeezing material through a mold while calendaring involves passing magnetic materials over a roller until they form thick sheets of flexible magnet. Standard magnetic strips usually feature single pole magnetization on one face only - giving each side equal strength - though custom double-pole magnetizations may also be ordered upon request.
These magnetic products can be found everywhere from package closures, toys, crafts and signage displays to advertising displays and signage displays. Laminated, customized and printed on both sides, they're durable enough to withstand drilling without cracking while remaining flexible enough to wrap around objects or machinery without incurring damage; all this makes them the ideal product for both industrial and commercial uses alike, such as eCommerce, craft projects, home improvement projects and white/dry erase boards.